Cyclones volleyball set to begin soon

After finishing its 2022 season with an 11-19 record, the HCHS volleyball team is ready for the new season to begin, starting with a scrimmage at home against the Carroll Tigers Aug. 22.

“We are very excited,” said Cyclone Head Coach Elle Crees. “It is always fun to see the growth the girls show even through the summer to the start of the season. They have put in a good amount of hours and travel toward the season already, so it’s great to get started officially.”

The Cyclones had five seniors who graduated last spring, including Macy Reischl who led the team in assists with 399, and Madison Kjergaard who led in digs with 301. With Reischl graduated, Crees believes another Macy will obtain many assists.

“I think there will be many athletes that step up defensively,” she said. “Assists wise, you will see a lot more from Junior Macy Mueller.”

But this season, one Cyclone returning for her senior season is Erica Rust who led their 2022 campaign with 46 blocks. Crees is confident Rust will be the blocks leader again up at the net.

“I do see her [Rust] in a very similar role,” she added. “She has verbalized goals for this season that surround blocking, so I believe she is very motivated and is working hard to grow even more in that aspect.”

Tough opponents the Cyclones battled last year were Lewis Central, who the Cyclones lost to in three sets on the road and Kuemper Catholic, whom they lost to in three sets as well.

“To me they will be a couple of our tougher matches,” Crees said. “We are very fortunate to get to be a part of the Hawkeye 10 conference, because all of our games are going to be competitive matches. I know the girls always really look forward to competing against Kuemper and LC.”

Highlights from last season include having back-to-back road victories over Council Bluffs Jefferson, winning two of three sets, followed by 2-set victory over Glenwood. They also won three of four sets over Shenandoah and three of four sets against Clarinda.

Unfortunately, the Cyclones did finish the season with a 7-game losing streak including their final game of the season to the Cherokee Washington Braves in the Class 3A – Region 2 Quarterfinal Game, dropping three consecutive sets.

Coming into the new season, Crees hopes to see adjustments made.

“I think one area we can make adjustments with utilizing some of our players in different positions,” she said. “We are lucky that we have this flexibility for some of the hitters to play in multiple positions.”